I turned to look at her. “Where’s Jenny?”
In reply, Ellen crossed the room and knelt next to the pile of blankets. “She’s here, miss. I...I covered her before I left.”
Kneeling beside Ellen, I gently folded back a thin layer of gray wool. Ellen gave a small sob. Henry pulled in a sharp breath, only to release it in a curse.
“Gracious Heaven!” I exclaimed. “What happened to her?”
Ellen pointed a trembling finger at the man. “Her uncle done it, miss. Went after her like a wild animal.”
I stared at the child in stunned silence. In my worst nightmares, I’d never imagined something so gruesome. Both eyes were bruised and swollen shut. A deep, jagged line cut a path across her forehead, exposing the skull in places. Bloody patches shined on her scalp where large clumps of brown hair had been pulled from the root. One cheek bore what looked to be a bite mark.
Bile hit my throat. The shredded remnants of a filthy shift did little to hide the purple and green bruises that stained the once pale skin across her skinny chest and abdomen. Red splotches encircled her neck, and a trail of bite marks ran up one arm. The other arm lay at an unnatural angle, bent back at the elbow.
How could anyone do this?
Ellen tugged at my sleeve. “Please, miss. Can ye help her?”
Hope was the only cure for dismay, and I offered it with surety. “Yes, Ellen, but I need you to step outside with Lord Fitzalan.”
Henry’s hand came down on my shoulder. “I’m not leaving you in here with that monster. He may be down for now, but there’s no telling how long he’ll stay that way.”
I heaved a frustrated sigh. Every second we argued would be another second this poor child had to suffer. “Fine, just bring Ellen to the other side of the room.”
Ellen kept a hold of my sleeve. “It’s all right, miss. I know Lady Dinley is special. If ye got the same gift, there ain’t no need to hide it from me. I’ve seen it before.”
“You’ve seen her heal?” I asked.
“Aye, miss. Her ladyship says I’ve got some of the same blood in my veins.”
Her sincerity left little room for doubt. “Very well.” I returned my attention to Jenny. The girl lay unconscious without the least sign of pain or awareness of her physical surroundings. Only the slight movement of her chest confirmed that life remained in the little body. And even that action would cease unless I acted soon.
Fire leapt to life inside me. With my hands placed on the girl’s chest, I closed my eyes to better concentrate as the power flowed down my arms into the very tips of my fingers. I released an initial stream, prepared to find all manner of internal damage, when the warmth unexpectedly faded. My eyes flew open, and I looked at her, shocked by what had just happened. During my many years of healing, I had experienced something similar only one other time...
The breath stuck in my throat. Surely this wasn’t the same. It couldn’t be. A child of seven or eight years would never willingly choose such a final course. Besides, she had already asked for help when we first came into the room. Why would she change her mind in so short a time? Holding onto this thought, I renewed my efforts. But no sooner had the power reached my fingers than it left me yet again.
My father’s words sounded clear as day in my head. There is no use fighting against my wishes.
For the briefest moment, Jenny’s eyes cracked open. Meeting my gaze, she moved her head ever so slightly back and forth. Her eyes closed again, and she went still as death.
“No!” I cried. “You can’t do this!”
Henry’s hand tightened on my shoulder. “What’s wrong, Selah? Don’t you have enough power?”
I shook his hand off. “She...she won’t let me help her.”
Desperate to get through, I released a deluge of fire sufficient to heal a dozen men. It faded to nothing, leaving me shaking as I stared helplessly down at her. The girl wanted to die, and I could do nothing to stop her.
The last glimmer of life clung to her small, bruised features. “Please listen, Jenny. If you let me, I can make you better and then we’ll take you away from here. That man will never touch you again. But you have to let me in. I can’t do anything unless you allow it.”
She didn’t move, not even the smallest twitch of her eyelids.
“Help her, miss,” Ellen pleaded, tugging on my sleeve again. “Don’t let her die.”
I felt helpless as a human as the light ebbed further from her face. “Jenny!” I yelled, my voice filling the small room. “Please, sweetheart, please just let me in. It will only take a minute.”
Henry knelt beside me. He lifted the girl’s hand for a moment, then gently laid it on the blanket. “She’s gone, Selah.”
I turned to him in disbelief. “No,” I whispered. “You have to make her listen to me. Please, make her listen—”